Daffy's Stitchy Friends

Friday, August 17, 2012

I'm much, much happier with the amount of stitching time I was able to put in this month. This is merrily reflected in a full ORT jar for this TUSAL.

Most of this is ORTs from Finery of Nature but I believe there are a also few from the pinpillows I made. It's amazing how a little more stitching time makes me a nicer person to be around.

Let's see your ORTs! TUSALers leave a comment on this post to receive an extra entry in the Totally Useless giveaway. What is the Totally Useless Stitch A Long? Click here.

A note to "Belle" who blogs at a place called The Secret Garden...you asked to join the SAL and then asked for your link to be corrected but the blog link you gave me goes to a blog that has been removed. Since your profile is not public, I cannot see your correct blog-link. I would be happy to fix this but my hands are tied without the correct link ~ sorry!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

I've been hard at work on The Finery of Nature. This is one HARD project to photograph! It is almost impossible to get a clear, in-focus picture with decent color. Out of two dozen photos this was the best and it's crap but you get the idea!

The little nest is taking shape. The yellow-gold looks odd without the earth colors surrounding it but it's nice to stitch a color that stands out as the foundation to count from. I doubt I'm even half through with this block since the nest is pretty solid with stitches. If you are wondering what the finished project looks like see my sidebar. The picture is a link to a larger photo but the kit is no longer available except on the secondhand market.

Keebles asked if I'm using a light box to help see? Yes, it's invaluable for stitching on dark fabric! What is a light box? It's a fluorescent light inside a translucent plastic box. The light shines up through your fabric so you can see the holes easier. Here is a snap of mine:

The funny square shape under the fabric is the pattern. I know there are DIY lightbox instructions on the web but I have this one, Light Tracer 2. Actually, I stole this light box from my daughter, Jessie ~ but since she left it in my basement...it was fair game, right?

Over the weekend, I found this in my mailbox:

Isn't this a beautiful Christmas ornament? It was an RAK from Becky of The Stitchin' Post. Look at that carefully beaded edge...and that adorable wire hanger. I was so tickled to receive this and I can't wait for the holidays so I can hang it on my tree! Thank you, Becky!

TUSALers be aware that Friday is the new moon! I need to find time to add recent members to the list so if your name isn't on there yet...I will get to it ~ eventually!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Awhile back, Angela, of Hooked On Stitches, contacted me to see if I'd be interested in a private exchange with her. Since it had been quite a long time since I had participated in an exchange I eagerly agreed. We set a mail date and an "anything goes" theme and each put our thinking caps on to decide on a project we thought the other might like. Last week I received the item Angela stitched for me:

A flatfold. OMG Angela stitched me a flatfold! Out of the many years of exchanges and blog giveaway prizes, I have never received a flatfold! I adore the design and the finishing is perfection. She even made sure to use my favorite colors of brown, green and lavender! Thank you so much, Angela! You can read more about Angela's project here.

My project for Angela was a Blackbird Designs Stitcher's Box. This was one of the best things I have ever done. The stitching was a dream and the finishing I fretted over (to no end) was very easy. I was very pleased when Angela said how much she liked it!

Design ~ Our Home Sewing Box

Designer ~ Blackbird Designs

Fabric ~ 32 count Belfast Linen

Fiber ~ DMC

Finish ~ Sewing box as instructed

Special ~ Overdyed after stitching with RIT tan dye

I'm still so impressed with my finishing on this project. As I said, it was so easy and it turned out really nice looking! My corners could be better...but why quibble?

Monday, August 6, 2012

Every time I post about using chenille I get questions about it. I decided I'd make a post about it so you could know where to get it!

It was hard to find! If you do an internet search for it all you seem to get are results for sweaters ~ lol! I searched and searched and finally found it at a place called Quilter's Station. Click that link and it will take you right to the chenille page.

It comes in a 20 yard package and looks like this:

I was a bit dismayed at first. It looked nothing like I expected! This is flat and it has a funny band up the center. I was thinking it would be round and fuzzy. Did I buy the wrong stuff?

But no, once you dye it and dry it out it takes it's shape! Here are two different packages I dyed. The left is dark brown RIT dye and the right is tan RIT dye. I just put some liquid dye into a mason jar with a cup of water, put the lid on and shook it well. (No, I didn't really measure anything. Just relax, people and let it flow!) Then I added the chenille and shook it again. After a wash with laundry detergent and letting it dry it got all round and fuzzy like I expected it to look. I must confess, when I dyed the brown, I got impatient waiting for it to dry and took the iron to it. I couldn't tell any difference between the ironed-dried one and the tan that I waited all night to air-dry. The leather cording Dash has been using for his motorcycle tassels comes on these big spools which were the perfect size to store the finished chenille on.

When you are ready to trim something you can either use tacky glue or be really fancy and ladder stitch it in place. I'm lazy. I just glue it.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

You remember I'm on a pinpillow kick, right? I can't tell you how tickled I was to win Lynn's blog giveaway, especially when the prize was a pinpillow. I received it a while back but I've been lazy about blog posting. Let me tell you...I could smell the Lavender (my favorite scent) when I opened the mailbox!

Isn't it precious? Lynn made the sweetest counting pins to go with it. I am just so pleased to own one of Lynn's creations. Every time I walk by it gets picked up and smelled. And I mean every. single. time! Thank you Lynn!

The next one is my own makings. Lindsay and I have been friends for years beginning with my becoming her "floss mom" back in the day. Whenever Lindsay finds she needs floss, she sends me a list and I will pick it up for her at cheap USA prices and if I find something I need from the UK I know I can always ask Lindsay for help. Every now and again little gifts go across to the other and here is one of mine to her.

I took several Blackbird Designs motifs and created a little pinpillow. On the back I added our initials.

It is stuffed with crushed walnut shells, makes it nice and heavy. I trimmed it out with chenille, dyed brown.